"... You find strength within the classroom, not based
simply on the commonalties... Those are there, but the strength
comes through the differences... the different stories you
have to tell, the different things [you] can learn from
one another and about one another and then celebrate..."Jan Currence
7th Grade Teacher, Stephen Decatur Middle School
Berlin, Maryland

As anybody with the opportunity to know identical twins well
might attest, external appearances can be deceiving. Closer
scrutiny forces superficial similarities aside, and each twin
presents a wide range of differences when compared with his
or her sibling. So it is in our schools. Even in locations
where similarities of ethnicity and geographic background
create classroom populations that look homogenous, closer
acquaintance invariably reveals an abundance of diversities
not readily apparent to the casual eye. Even though every
human being on the planet shares 99.9% of his or her DNA with
every other human, different cultural or economic backgrounds,
ability levels, physical or emotional challenges, interests,
and life experiences generate the multiple perspectives that
typify our complex society and enrich our interactions with
one another.

Certainly
the many different points-of-view students bring to the classroom
present a number of challenges for teachers. How can both
curriculum and instruction be designed and presented to meet
the needs of such diverse populations? In full-inclusion classrooms,
how can teachers ensure that every student will be able to
participate fully in the instructional experiences offered?
What support will students need to help them understand, accept,
and appreciate the multiple perspectives they encounter, both
within the classroom and in their larger society?

These are the issues examined by the teachers in Workshop
5. As you are invited into their classrooms, you will note
that although the diversity of their students is readily apparent
in some cases, in others, while less visible, it is no less
real.

For a complete guide to the workshop session activities,
download and print our Support Materials.